“Women also drink higher amounts of tea compared to men, which increases our power to find association in women.”

Previous studies have suggested that both tea and coffee, play an important role in modulating disease-risk in humans, and although this study looked at both caffeinated drinks, coffee was not seen to cause epigenetic changes.

Results from this study highlight the role of pharmacologically active components in tea being involved in cancer and estrogen metabolism.

Despite the findings, the study was not able to conclude whether it is still “healthy to drink tea” or the quantities of consumption that are cause for concern.

Further research is required to establish these parameters, according to the team.